About one hundred acres of prime real estate just south of Austin's downtown could soon have a new look.

As it stands, South Shore Central is the area where the hike-and-bike trail meets pavement. Plans are already underway to connect the trail using a boardwalk in the east side of the area, but Alan Holt with the City of Austin said paved parking lots and aging buildings are not the best use of this prime real estate on the shores of Austin's door mat, Lady Bird Lake.

"The South Shore Central area is arguably the area of our waterfront that is slated for perhaps the biggest changes coming down the road," Holt said.

This week, a team of experts is bringing its expertise in green infrastructure, affordable housing and economic development to Austin. Resumes include work done in San Francisco, Seattle and New York.

Holt says planners will assess the opportunities and challenges South Shore Central faces.

"Balancing different interests and needs and wants and desires of the community is always the alchemy of doing good planning," he said.

And Holt stressed that the city will have the final say in what ideas are eventually adopted from the out-of-town planners. The end goal: creating a more vibrant area just south of Austin's core which still reflects the city's character.

There are several opportunities for Austinites to get involved.

The first will be a public discussion held at 5:30 p.m. Monday at the Mexican-American Cultural Center.

Planners will reveal their vision at a meeting at the same time and place on Wednesday. For more information, visit AustinTexas.gov/waterfront.